Blu-ray Review “The Beast (Special Extended Edition)”

Directed by: Jeff Bleckner
Starring: William Petersen, Charles Martin Smith, Karen Sillas
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Timeless Media Group
Release Date: August 4, 2009
Running Time: 180 minutes

Our Score: 2 out 5 stars

Peter Benchley changed my life with “Jaws” and due to that his work will always hold a special place for me. “The Beast” was never my favorite adaption of his work but it is not terrible either. This release though by Timeless Media Group is a bit disappointing and doesn’t even equate to a proper Blu-ray release. I hate to keep putting this down but I feel like it is more of a DVD upscale than a Blu-ray.

“The Beast” stars William L. Petersen (“CSI”) as Whip Dalton in this battle of man against the darkest secrets of the ocean deep. When a large, strange claw is discovered in the small town of Graves Point, marine biologist Dr. Herbert Talley (Ronald Guttman), identifies it as belonging to a rare giant squid. The Dr. and Whip Dalton set out to hunt this beast. What is cool about this release is that it is the full uncut Special Extended Version. It features almost 80 minutes of restored footage from the original TV mini-series release.

The Blu-ray packaging is lame and badly photoshopped. The video resolution only includes an 720p transfer, with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. I will give this a little bit a leeway since it was made in the 90’s but the standard 4:3 release just eeks me on Blu-ray. The audio is only Dolby Digital 2.0 track, no bad overall but nothing special. To top this off, there are absolutely no special features. All you get is the movie and a scene selection menu.

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Blu-ray Review “Shogun Assassin – 5 Film Collector’s Edition”

Director(s): Robert Houston, Kenji Misumi, Buichi Saito, Yoshiyuki Kuroda
Actors: Kayo Matsuo, Masahiro Tomikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama
Distributed by: AnimEigo
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 427 minutes

Box Set: 3 out of 5 stars
Films: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Let me start with that fact that I have been a long time fan of the “Lone Wolf and Cub” series, which are the films that “Shogun Assassin” series has been morphed into.  This series is so influential for recent films like “Kill Bill” and artists like RZA. AnimEigo is the team behind the Blu-ray box set and they did a pretty decent job overall.  For “Shogun Assassin”, they completely reconstructed the movie using pristine masters of the original two “Lone Wolf and Cub” films. Basically every frame has been restored using uncompressed 24p 1080p 2.35:1 anamorphic source materials.  So that is very impressive but the rest of the films, I can’t really say the same.

This set does not only include “Shogun Assassin” but also its 4 sequels, “Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death”, “Shogun Assassin 3: Slashing Blades of Carnage”, “Shogun Assassin 4: Five Fistfuls Of Gold” and “Shogun Assassin 5: Cold Road to Hell”. It is a fantastic to be able to get all these films released on Blu-ray in once box set for the first time. The box set itself seems a little cheap though and low production, with repeated artwork and lacks of documentation on the restoration process. The first film is included on its own Blu-ray, which honestly does looks amazing. But I do not feel that the same TLC really went to the following four films, which are crammed onto the second Blu-ray disc.  For the price of this box set it just seems like you would get a little more on presentation of the discs.

The special features on the disc are not out of this world but does included some new material.  There is an exclusive interview with Samuel L. Jackson, which I can listen to him talk about just anything.  There is a new commentary included which features producer David Weisman, illustrator Jim Evans, and Gibran Evans (narrator of Daigoro).  It is very informative and fun to listen to, I recommend this.  Lastly there is also another audio commentary by film scholar Ric Meyers and martial arts expert Steve Watson.  Let’s just say I prefer the first commentary more.  I would have also love to seen more production special features from these films.

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Blu-ray Review “Casablanca: 70th Anniversary Limited Collector’s Edition”

Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 102 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Warner Bros. is becoming know for releasing these amazing Anniversary Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-rays. They did it last year with both “Ben-Hur” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, both which were two of my favorite releases of the year. This 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray release of “Casablanca” comes packaged in a large rectangle box and is jam packed with amazing collectibles. Inside the box, you get 3-disc Digipak with two Blu-rays and a standard DVD. There is a simply breathtaking 62-page hardcover book with rare production notes and really great behind-the-scenes photos and drawings. There are four drink coasters included but not just loose, they come in a sweet faux-leather collectable box. Lastly there is a 21 x 15-inch 1942 French theatrical mini movie poster. All that amazing stuff is just inside the box, we haven’t even talked about the more than thirteen hours of special features and the amazing Blu-ray transfer yet.

The video presentation of this 70 year old film looks beyond fantastic and really shines on Blu-ray. You can thank this stunning 1080p transfer to an all-new 4K scan and a very in-depth frame by frame restoration. The audio a decent DTS-HD Master Audio Mono 1.0 track. Even though it is a restored single-channel mix, I felt that the audio was great but just a little lacking with the dialogue. Overall still very impressive audio and visual, nonetheless.

The special features are split over two Blu-rays and the main downfall to this otherwise amazing release is that most are in standard definition. There are two commentaries, though none with principal cast or crew. The first with film critic Roger Ebert and the second with historian Rudy Behlmer. Both are still very interesting though and informative. The only HD feature on disc one is “Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic”, which runs about 35 minutes and is a newly produced documentary. Many notable talent speak about the film, its impact including like Steven Spielberg, William Friedkin and Rudy Behlmer. There is an introduction by Lauren Bacall speaking about Casablanca’s enduring appeal. “Warner Night at the Movies” runs just under an hour and dives into the 1940s experience of “Casablanca”. “Great Performances: Bacall on Bogart” runs just over 80 minutes and is a solid documentary on Bogart. “You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca” runs about 35 minutes and carries a bit of repeat from the last documentary on the film but still worth a watch. “As Time Goes By: The Children Remember” features Stephen Bogart and Pia Lindstrom as they discuss their parents and the effect the film has had on them. There is about 75 minutes of audio-only content including a 1943 “Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater Radio Broadcast”, a “VOX Pop Radio Broadcast” from 1947, a series of “Scoring Stage Sessions” featuring alternate versions of the a few songs. There is some additional footage included along with some deleted scenes, as well as outtakes, “Who Holds Tomorrow” (a “Casablanca” television remake), and “Carrotblanca,” a Looney Tunes parody of the film. Lastly on disc one there are the film’s original theatrical trailer and theatrical re-release trailer as well.

The second Blu-ray of special features contains less features but more content. “The Brothers Warner” is an hour and a half feature on Harry Warner and his brothers. It really goes behind the scenes about the brothers and about their process for creating films. It is also presented in high definition. The next feature is a real zinger racking in at almost five hours. “You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story” is a five-hour documentary from director Richard Schickel and narrator Clint Eastwood. It focuses on Warner Bros, obviously. It is split over a few chapters include “A Rising Power (1923-1937),” “War and Peace (1937-1949),” “Age of Anxiety (1950-1969),” “Starting Over (1970-1990)” and “A Living Tradition (1988-2008)”. Lastly there is a feature, which runs about an hour called “Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul” and looks into this legacy.

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Synopsis: Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you’re wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one – especially Victor’s wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo’s transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more – personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance. Winner of three Academy Awards including Best Picture, Casablanca marks its 70th anniversary as a beloved favorite with so many bonuses that no matter how often you’ve seen it, this beautiful 70th Anniversary (Limited and Numbered) Edition looks like yet another beginning of a beautiful friendship with an unforgettable classic.

 

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Blu-ray Review “The Sitter: Totally Irresponsible Edition”

Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 81 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out 5 stars

Recently Jonah Hill is a hit and miss when it comes to comedy. After “Superbad”, he seemed like a sure bet for laughs but this totally feels like him going from A to F and seems a very sad role. I do not believe he really deserved an Oscar nomination for “Moneyball” but I think he looks hysterical in “21 Jump Street”.  The film features a supporting case that is funnier including a crew performance by Sam Rockwell. David Gordon Green is a great director but he doesn’t really show up in this film at all. Lastly, the film barely runs 80 minutes and I am all for short comedies but it feels like a 2 hour movie easily.

Jonah Hill stars as Noah, a slacker with no drive that ends up doing his mom a favor by babysitting his neighbor’s children (Max Records, Landry Bender, Kevin Hernandez). He is completely unqualified but get’s overtaken by the kids. While sitting, his girlfriend (Ari Gaynor) promises sex if he brings her some cocaine to a party. This causes him to take the kids out on the town and get caught up with crazy drug dealer (Sam Rockwell).

The Blu-ray release is well packaged and contains not only the Blu-ray but also a DVD and a digital copy. It also includes both the theatrical and unrated versions of the film, even though neither work. The 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray is impressive and looks good especially for a comedy. The same goes for the audio DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, it works with the music and action scenes the best.

The special features included are good but run very short and seems like one long gag. There are ten deleted/extended scenes, which run about 25 minutes. There is a gag reel, which I always love. “Sits-N-Giggles” is a collection of the film’s improvised lines, which is also very funny. These two features are funnier than the whole film together. “For Your Consideration” is a waste of time joke about Blake beat-boxing. “The Making of The Sitter” is a basic/decent behind-the-scenes featurette. “Jonah the Producer” features Jonah trying to teach kids. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.

 

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CD Review: Dropkick Murphys “Going Out In Style: Fenway Park Bonus Edition”

Dropkick Murphys
“Going Out In Style: Fenway Park Bonus Edition”
Born and Bred Records
Producer: Ted Hutt
Live Recording: Michael Lapierre
Disc 1 / Tracks: 13
Disc 2 / Tracks: 18

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Going Out In Style: Fenway Park Bonus Edition” is the latest release from the Irish tinged punk rock band Dropkick Murphys. The album is being released via the groups own Born and Bred Records and is a special repackaging of the groups 2011 studio release “Going Out in Style”. The 2 disc album features new cover art, the 2011 studio album and a complete live show which was recorded over two nights at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.

Fans that may have picked up “Going Out In Style” when the album first was released last year may not find this album as appealing as I did. Disc 1 features the standard release of “Going Out in Style” which features 13 studio tracks and no additional content. Disc 2 is the live Fenway Park recording which features a variety of classic DKM tracks that were compiled from the bands 2 night performance at the historic baseball park. Songs such as “Tessie” and “The State of Massachusetts” were instant favorites as the live version of these songs seemed to have a bit more life than the studio takes. Midway through the show the band performs 3 acoustic tracks which I felt took away some of the overall energy. Personally I think it would have been nice to hear the electric version of “Boys on the Docks”. Though not a personal favorite of mine these acoustic performances were still stellar and packed full of traditional Celtic folk sounds.

Though both albums don’t feature any new material by the band “Going Out In Style: Fenway Park Bonus Edition” will be a great pick up for someone who attended the shows and or is a diehard Dropkick Murphy’s fan. The songs contained on these two discs should be more than enough to hold everyone over until the release of the bands new studio album.

Track Listing: Disc 1
1.) Hang ‘Em High
2.) Going Out In Style
3.) The Hardest Mile
4.) Cruel
5.) Memorial Day
6.) Climbing a Chair to Bed
7.) Broken Hymns
8.) Deeds Not Words
9.) Take ‘Em Down
10.) Sunday Hardcore Matinee
11.) 1953
12.) Peg O’ My Heart
13.) The Irish Rover

Track Listing: Disc 2
1.) Hang ‘Em High
2.) Sunday Hardcore Matinee
3.) Deeds Not Words
4.) Going Out in Style
5.) The Irish Rover
6.) Peg O’ My Heart
7.) Tessie
8.) Cruel
9.) Climbing a Chair to bed
10.) Take ‘Em Down
11.) Devil’s Brigade
12.) Boys on the Docks
13.) The Dirty Glass
14.) The State of Massachusetts
15.) Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced
16.) Time to Go
17.) I’m Shipping Up to Boston
18.) TNT

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Blu-ray Review “Wizards: 35th Anniversary Edition”

Directed by: Ralph Bakshi
Starring: Bob Holt, Steve Gravers and Jesse Welles
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 81 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of Ralph Bakshi then you would be excited for this release, if not then you probably have never heard of this film. Bakshi is the director of film’s like “Fritz the Cat”, “The Lord of the Rings (1978)” and “Cool World”. His animation style is so unique and very interesting to watch. This film holds up well over the years and looks decent on Blu-ray. The real draw on this release has to be the Digibook packaging. The release comes with a 24-page full-color digibook. It includes a note from Ralph Bakshi, a short essay on the film, and lots of sketches and concept art. Definitely worth picking up if you are fans of Bakshi and the film.

The film itself follows the battle between Avatar and his evil brother Blackwolf. Avatar is an eccentric but kind sorcerer-ruler of Montagar, which is a magical place inhabited by elves and fairies. Blackwolf has plans to dominates Montagar. But with the help from fairy Elinore, a robot assassin named Peace, and Elfin spy Weehawk, Avatar must save his world from darkness.

The Blu-ray presentation is good but not amazing. The video looks good in 1080p transfer but is not perfect. The color really pop and the animation looks sharp even though its shows a little age. The audio boasts an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and also includes a English Dolby Digital mono track. Note: this US release does not include the score-only audio track like the UK release unfortunately.

Since this is the 35th Anniversary release, I was hoping for some new special features but there is nothing new and everything is only presented in standard definition. There is a commentary track from Bakshi, which was used on the 2004 DVD release. It is a good commentary track though and very informative. There is a 35 minute making-of feature called “Ralph Bakshi- The Wizard of Animation Featurette”, definitely worth checking out and wish this was in HD. Lastly there is two trailers, TV spot and a photo gallery included.

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Blu-ray Review “The Town: Ultimate Collector’s Edition”

Directed by: Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively
MPAA Rating: R (Theatrical) / Not Rated (Extended)
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 125 minutes (Theatrical) / 153 minutes (Extended)

Overall Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Before reading this review, if you have never seen this film…stop reading and go out to the store and by this release. It is simple as that. This film was one of my favorite films of 2010. This Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is the perfect set release for this amazing film. “The Town” is most definitely going to become a classic like other robbery films like “Dog Day Afternoon” and “The Italian Job”. Ben Affleck does a flawless job not only directing but also acting, easily the best work he has done to date.

This new 3-disc (2 Blu-ray, 1 DVD) release feature a a new cut of the film including an alternate ending with audio commentary available as well. It is actually the third cut of the film and is even different from the recent extended cut. There is also an amazing 30 minute documentary called “Director’s Journey”. If that is not enough this release comes with amazing packaging and really cool goodies. There is a 48-page book filled with high quality photos. There is a letter from director Ben Affleck.  There is a huge poster-size map of Charlestown with notes from the film.  Wait…there is still more…including a confidential folder packed with a fifteen-page FBI report, four mugshot cards, a Vericom employee file and a sheet of rub-on tattoos. I think they went above and beyond with these extras.  It is very impressive and a great collectable for fans.

The video quality of the Blu-ray are just perfect and so clear.  I think they really put a lot into this film and it shows for sure.   The audio also comes packed with a fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track.  You literally feel like you are being caught in the gun fire throughout the film.  Really top notch.  Here is a break down of the discs included in this release. The first Blu-ray comes with the new extended cut with alternate ending on its own Blu-ray. The second Blu-ray has the other extended up and the theatrical cut. There is also a DVD included as well.  Also included is a streaming Ultraviolet digital copy, which will be added to my Flixster account immediately.

Let’s get to some of the special features now.  This release has no shortage of commentary tracks, in fact, it comes with three.  The first is for the theatrical cut of the film and Ben Affleck does a wonderful job of complementing the film in a very entertaining commentary.  The next is the extended cut audio commentary is similar to the theatrical cut but gets into the meat of the extra footage.  Like I mentioned above, this release also features a new commentary for the extended cut with alternate ending.  It is an extension of the extended commentary track.  Too much commentary for you? I do not think so.  Definitely at least give a listen to the commentary for the alternate ending for some great info about the changes.

“The Town: A Director’s Journey” is a new documentary for this release and it runs about 30 minutes.  It dives a lot into the film’s production and you get a lot of Ben Affleck but if you love the film then you would love this.  “Ben’s Boston” Focus Points run about 30 minutes spread out among six behind-the-scenes featurette. They are able to be played during watching the film.  The featurettes  include “Pulling Off the Perfect Heist,” “The Town,” “Nuns with Guns: Filming in the North End,” “The Real People of the Town,” “Ben Affleck: Director & Actor” and “The Cathedral of Boston.” The next feature is so simple but I really like it, which is an “Extended Cut Scene Indicator”.  It features an icon on the screen when there is new footage from the theatrical version of the film.  Lastly there is a theatrical trailer also included. Amazing features + Amazing movie = Amazing release.

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Synopsis: Ben Affleck follows his acclaimed Gone Baby Gone directorial debut by directing, co-writing and starring in a taut thriller about robbers and cops, friendship and betrayal, love and hope and escaping a past that has no future. He plays Doug MacRay, leader of a Boston bank robber gang but not cut from the same cloth as his fellow thieves. When Doug falls into a passionate romance with the bank manager (Rebecca Hall) briefly taken hostage in their last heist, he wants out of this life and out of the town. As the Feds close in and the crew questions his loyalty, he has one of two choices: betray his friends or lose the woman he loves. Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper also star.

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Blu-ray Review “Unforgiven: 20th Anniversary Edition”

Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 21, 2012
Run Time: 131 minutes

2012 Release: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Unforgiven” celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a newly restored Blu-ray, releases in the Digibook format, which is one of my favorites. I feel that the Blu-ray Book, not only looks cooler than a boring case but also includes some really great information. The commemorative book contains 54 pages of great behind the scene images, script and rare photos. I recently reviewed Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” and I made a comment that I am not the biggest fan of his work, though this film an exception. It is a must purchase for fans of this movie, especially if you don’t own it.

Clint Eastwood delivers a great performance. He won an Oscar for his amazing job directing this Western, it is his best effort to date easily. I also really enjoy Gene Hackman’s role as he is one kick-ass baddie, he also won an Oscar for his role. Morgan Freeman always did a fantastic job as the loyal Ned. The Blu-ray video was definitely an improvement over 2006’s release with a cleaner 2.39:1 original transfer. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio surround track was also impressive especially during the shoot-out scenes.

The special features includes on the release are decent but nothing new from 2006’s Blu-ray release. There is a commentary track from Eastwood’s biographer Richard Schickel, disappointing that Eastwood himself is not on this track though. There are four behind the scenes documentaries covering the making of the film. The first is called “All on Accounta Pullin’ a Trigger”, which features 2002 interviews with Eastwood, Freeman and Hackman. The second is called “Eastwood & Co.: Making Unforgiven”. “Eastwood…A Star” is the next feature is focuses on the film’s actor turned director, my least feature by far. Lastly and also my favorite is “Eastwood on Eastwood” a 108-minute documentary produced and directed by Schickel. Next up where is a classic episode “Duel at Sundown” of the Western show “Maverick” (not HD) and also a trailer is included. Decent features if you don’t own this movie already but nothing special to make you run out to buy if not.

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Blu-ray Review “What’s Your Number? Ex-tended Edition”

Directed by: Mark Mylod
Starring: Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Joel McHale, Zachary Quinto, Martin Freeman, Andy Samberg, Anthony Mackie, Blythe Danner, Ed Begley, Jr.
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: R / Unrated
Running time: 106 minutes (R-Rated), 117 minutes (Unrated)

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Since “Scary Movie” series, Anna Faris’ films really haven’t appealed to me, this one is no different. In fact I think it might be the worst one and she seems to spend a lot of time shows off her fake boobs. I am a fan of Chris Evans but it is sad that he is in this film the same year as the great “Captain America: The First Avenger”. But I guess for woman watching this film he walks around naked half the movie and I am sure they will enjoy it more. The film has terrible pacing and feels long after the first 30 minutes. The film does have some decent yet awkward  brief cameos from SNL’s Andy Samberg as a creepy puppeteer and Reno 911’s Thomas Lennon as a creepy gynecologist.

After losing her job, Ally (Anna Faris) reads a magazine article called “What’s Your Number?”, which tells the average number of people America sleeps with.  Ally realizes that her number is nearly double the average at 19.  She decides to track down her ex-boyfriends in hopes to find one to marry and to avoid going over 20 men that she has slept. Ally gets some help from her neighbor Colin (Chris Evans), who sleeps around, so guess what happens next while she tracks down her past exes.

The “ex-tended” unrated cut just adds 11 minutes to the already unbearable 106 minutes. Just to note there is also a DVD and digital copy of the movie included in case actually enjoyed it.  The special features on the disc are also lame, There are about 17 minutes of deleted scenes, nothing worth wild. The gag reel is decent and runs about 7 minutes and that is it on the features besides a trailer and some previews for upcoming Fox films. No audio commentaries or behind-the-scenes features, even though I wouldn’t watch them anyway.

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DVD Review “Neverwhere: 15th Anniversary Edition”

Created by: Neil Gaiman, Lenny Henry
Starring: Gary Bakewell, Laura Fraser, Hywel Bennett, Clive Russell, Paterson Joseph,
Trevor Peacock, Elizabeth Marmur, Tanya Moodie, Peter Capaldi
Distributed by: BBC
Episodes: 6
Running Time: 180 minutes

Overall Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Neil Gaiman definitely has a very unique eye for storytelling. One of my favorites of his work is “Coraline” and its stop action animation movie. This BBC miniseries celebrating it’s 15th anniversary definitely shows its age in its production. This is the first time in fact I am viewing this series and it doesn’t have the same visual feel that I loved from “Coraline”. I did catch a little feeling of “Alice in Wonderland” throughout but the magic just wasn’t there. I know this series had issues with production and suffers due to that but I think this would have served better as a feature then miniseries. One thing I did enjoy quite a bit is the music from Brian Eno, he is one of my favorites.

The special features on this 15th anniversary edition are worth the upgrade though especially if you are a fan of Gaiman. It includes a new audio commentary with Neil Gaiman, Lenny Henry and Clive Brill. It is a great retrospective looking back on the series. It goes into decent depth on the production. There is also an introduction to the 15th anniversary edition, which is a fun tribute. I think the coolest thing about this release is there is a huge pull out map of “Neverwhere”. There is also recycled bonus features from the last release includes an interview and audio commentary with Neil Gaiman. I enjoyed the new commentary better. I would have liked to see a new interview with Gaiman as well. Lastly there is the photo gallery and character descriptions included.

Synopsis: Neil Gaiman’s (The Sandman, Coraline) first TV miniseries, co-created with Lenny Henry (The Lenny Henry Show, Chef!), brings viewers to an ambitious exploration of a London with two worlds. When office drone Richard Mayhew (Gary Bakewell) rescues a mysterious girl named Door (Laura Fraser, He Knew He Was Right), he unwittingly finds himself part of her quest to learn why her parents have been killed. The next thing he knows, Mayhew?s life changes forever as he’s pulled into the fantastical world of London Below, far from his mundane life in London Above. Pursued by the murderous Messrs. Croup and Vandemar, Door and Richard, with the help of Hunter and the Marquis de Carabas, attempt to find the Angel Islington, who knows the secret behind the murder of Door’s family, and possibly a way for Richard to go home.

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Blu-ray Review “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition

Directed by: Mel Stuart
Starring: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Julie Dawn Cole, Paris Themmen, Denise Nickerson & Michael Bollner
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 100 minutes

Ultimate Collector’s Edition: 5 out of 5 stars

I have seen “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” an uncountable amount of times. I have also interview most of the cast/crew, check it out here. It is for sure in my top 5 films of all time, no question. So obviously, I will not need to say more about the film…and plus who hasn’t seen “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” at least once. When this film came to Blu-ray, I think I smiled for a complete 24 hours straight. The film is meant for this format. The colors are so vibrant, rich and brought to life on this release. The sound and music are perfect and really makes singing along very easy…come on, you all know the words. Now with the Ultimate Collector’s Edition, we get the perfect beautiful Blu-ray release and SOOOOO much more…

Besides the Blu-ray and DVD disc, the set some with a 144-page paperback book, “Pure Imagination: The Making of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” from director Mel Stuart talking about the production from behind the scenes. Next is a replica production correspondence in a heavy paper envelope and it contains 14 letters.  A reprint of the cast list, a letter from producer Stan Margulies to Pia Arnold, a handwritten letter from Gene Wilder to Mel Stuart, a note from producer David L. Wolper to Mel Stuart and some of the letter included. There is a Wonka Bar tin container which holds four multi-colored scratch-n-sniff pencils and a scented chocolate eraser. There is also a replica of a Wonka golden ticket with an online code for a new prize giveaway. I mean if all that isn’t worth the purchase alone then you obviously aren’t a fan of this film.

The special features are a little light and not in HD but there has never been real extras on any of the releases in the past so it is not a shock. Being a fan of this film for almost 30 years, the audio commentary is worth the price of the set alone which included all five Wonka kids, Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop) and Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde). It is fun and very entertaining. The first extra is called “Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”, which runs about 30 minutes and pretty much is a verbal coverage from Mel Stuart behind the scenes book. There are four karaoke-style sing-along videos for “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” “Pure Imagination,” “I Want It Now” and “Oompa-Loompa-Doompa-De-Do.” Come all though…we all know the words! There is a really cool vintage featurette from 1971, which is really interesting and of course disc 1 wrap with the 1971 theatrical trailer. The second disc only has two special features first with “Mel Stuart’s Wonkavision” which is a new featurette that has Mel Stuart reminiscing about the film. Lastly, “A World of Pure Imagination” is a newly found vintage featurette with the interview with author Roald Dahl.

Synopsis: A poor little boy wins a ticket to visit the inside of a mysterious and magical chocolate factory. When he experiences the wonders inside the factory, the boy discovers that the entire visit is a test of his character. Special Features: Scrumptious Documentary, Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Mouth Watering Commentary With The Wonka Kids, 4 Sing-Along Songs, Vintage 1971 Featurette, Stills Gallery & Theatrical Trailer.

Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand and for Download 10/18! http://bit.ly/oSDajR

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Blu-ray Review “Ben-Hur 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition”

Directed by: William Wyler
Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
MPAA Rating: G
Running time: 212 minutes

Overall Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Ben-Hur” is such a classic film and it is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year. Warner Bros is giving this film the real ultimate collector’s edition. Not only it is packed with great content (which I will get to shortly), for this release, “Ben-Hur” has undergone a $1 million restoration. Warner Bros. performed a frame by frame restoration from the original 65 mm negative making this the highest resolution restoration ever completed by the studio. It is no joke and it really deserves the high praises. To get to the new goodies includes first we get an all-new high-definition feature-length documentary called “Charlton Heston: A Personal Journey”. This chronicles Heston’s life while filming Ben-Hur. The other new feature is called “Charlton Heston: The Ben-Hur Diaries”, which is a first-time exclusive look into an Oscar-winning actor’s experience while making an award-winning film. Along is those feature an actual reproduction of Charlton Heston’s personal diary is includes which dates from January 1958 through April 1960. There is also an exclusive hardbound book with rare photography, production art and reproductions from the original theatrical press book. Wow…right? So amazing!

The Blu-ray itself includes the movie split over two discs and features some really crisp and clear Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio. The special features on those discs are commentary by film historian T. Gene Hatcher with scene specific comments from Charlton Heston. There is also an amazing music-only track showing off the terrible memorable score by Miklos Rozsa. Disc three features “Charlton Heston: A Personal Journey”, which we talked about already. It runs about 80 minutes as well. There is the 1925 Silent Version of “Ben-Hur” includes. Next up is the 2005 documentary “Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema”, which shows Ben Hur’s influence on today’s films. Heading back another decade or so, we then have the 1994 Documentary “Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic Hosted by Christopher Plummer”. A very interesting extra is next called “Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures” it is a travel through the film with stills, music and storyboards…very interesting. There are about 30 minutes of screen tests, which is fun to watch since it is aged 50 years. If you dig vintage, then you will love the old newsreels galleries from the film. Lastly there is highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards ceremony. Great extras on a wonderful Blu-ray release. This really earns the title of Ultimate Collector’s Edition.

Synopsis: Experience the visual splendor, thundering action and towering drama of this record-setting Academy Award-winning film. Charlton Heston, in his Best Actor Oscar-winning role, is Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman in Palestine whose heroic odyssey includes enslavement by the Romans, vengeance against his tormentors during a furious arena chariot race and fateful encounters with Jesus Christ. Best Director Oscar-winner William Wyler masterfully grips the reins of an enduring and spellbinding spectacular.

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Blu-Ray Review “Planet Earth: Special Edition”

Narrated by David Attenborough
Directors: Alastair Fothergill
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC
Run Time: 550 minutes

Special Edition: 5 out of 5 stars

When “Planet Earth” premiered in 2007, it changed the meaning of what to expect from a wild-life/nature series.  The show was the most expensive series ever created by the BBC to date and took five years to be filmed.  Back in then it was also the first to be filmed in high definition, which was really just getting popular.  The first time I saw the shark attack the seal on the program using ultra high-speed cameras, it changed my life.  This show prides itself on provided rare captured shot from the most impossible locations with our planet’s wildest and most elusive creatures.  Many good shows have followed this one like “Life” but this series still reigns supreme.

This special edition release takes advance of new features released in high definition technology since the original release. The 6-disc Blu-ray box sets contains over three hours of new bonus materials. Alastair Fothergill who created this series, also created and works on Disneynature films like “Earth” and the recent “African Cats”.  Click here to read our interview with the man himself, Alastair Fothergill.

Let’s get down to some of the new special features included in this release.  First off we get a sneak peak at Alastair’s upcoming project “Frozen Planet”.  If you are fan of commentary it is available on select episodes.  Even though the show is narrated, I really enjoy the commentary because it tells the perspective from the person there in the trenches not just a script being read. “Greatest Planet Earth Moments” is a summation of the best moments from this series and some interesting behind the scenes tips on how the moments were captured.  We go behind the scenes with the BBC Natural History Unit on two features, the first called “Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth“, which  takes us on a exploration through a cave deep in the mountains of Pakistan to find out about the raising habits of  snow leopards. The second is called “Secrets of the Maya Underworld”  which dives us into freshwater pools in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula that the Mayans believed to be portals to the Underworld.  “Elephant Nomads of the Namib Desert” tells the story of survival for two female elephants and their young vs. the harshest climates on Earth. Overall the features are so fantastic and contain some really phenomenal footage. That is one of the thing that I have loved very much about “Planet Earth” is that the episodes are never boring and are always packed with quality information and visuals.

If you thought that all of that was great wait there is still more prior to this release their was bonus feature only available with the DVD release. With this new Blu-ray section edition, we not get 110 minutes of high definition behind the scenes footage from each episode. Lastly “Planet Earth – The Future”, which is a three talks ultimately about the future for endangered animals, habitats and us.  Fans of nature series that do not own this yet…here is your reason to take the plunge.  This set is worth every penny.

Synopsis: The new, 6-disc Planet Earth Special Edition is also available in this special, limited, numbered collector?s edition globe package! All six discs, plus a set of 4 exclusive art cards featuring some of the most stunning images from the series are housed in a sturdy, weighted globe, numbered for greater collectability. Available with both the DVD and Blu-ray. Planet Earth took the world by storm when it originally aired. It garnered uniformly glowing reviews, won four Emmy Awards, including Best Nonfiction Series and Best Cinematography, and its longevity on the best-seller list is legend. Now, with the addition of all new commentary and new bonus programs, and this totally unique collectible package, you can relive this incredible experience all over again! In this truly special, limited collector?s edition, prepare to be overwhelmed again by the beauty and majesty of Planet Earth.

Official Site:

Planet Earth Play List:

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“The Lion King” Diamond Edition Blu-Ray Giveaway [ENDED]

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING, THE CONTEST HAS ENDED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EVERY WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

©Disney

Available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack + DVD Tuesday, October 4th

To celebrate Disney’s Diamond Edition Blu-Ray™ release of “The Lion King”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway 10 copies of the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (Blu-ray™ + DVD). If you would like to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email and let us know your favorite song from “The Lion King”. This giveaway will be open until Monday October 10th at Noon, Eastern Time and is only open to residents of the United States. Only one entry per person, per household; all other entries will be considered invalid. Once the giveaway ends, Movie Mikes will randomly pick out winners and alert the winners via email.

The Blu-ray™ debut marks the first time “The Lion King” has been available in any form since 2004. Featuring pristine high definition picture and sound, the Blu-ray™ creates an incredible at-home experience with a host of picture and sound enhancements, interactive features and bonus content, including a new set of hilarious animated bloopers.

Synopsis:
Embark on an extraordinary coming-of-age adventure as Simba, a lion cub who cannot wait to be king, searches for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life.” From the stunningly beautiful opening sequence over African vistas, to the hilarious escapades of “Hakuna Matata” with Timon and Pumbaa, to the awe-inspiring moment when Simba takes his rightful place atop Pride Rock, you will be thrilled by the breathtaking animation, unforgettable Academy Award(R)-winning music (1994: Best Original Score; Best Original Song, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”) and timeless story.

Sound:
5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48 KHz/24-bit), French, Spanish

Bonus Features:
1. Blu-ray™ Feature Film + Bonus
2. DVD Feature Film + Bonus
3. Interactive Blu-ray™ Gallery
4. Classic DVD Features Powered By BD-Live!
5. Disney Second Screen — Interact With Movies On Your Laptop Or iPad™
6. 4 Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
7. Never-Before-Seen Bloopers
8. Deleted Song
9. The Morning Report: Extended Scene
10. Pride Of THE LION KING
11. THE LION KING: A Memoir — Don Hahn
12. Disney Sing-Along Mode

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: bluray, diamond, edition, giveaway, king, lion, ...

Disney’s “Dumbo” 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray Giveaway [EDNED]

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING, THE CONTEST HAS ENDED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EVERY WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

©Disney

Available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Movie Download Tuesday, Sept.20th

To celebrate Disney’s 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray™ release of “Dumbo”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway 10 copies of the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (Blu-ray™ + DVD). If you would like to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email and let us know your favorite Disney song. This giveaway will be open until Monday September 26th at Noon, Eastern Time and is only open to residents of the United States. Only one entry per person, per household; all other entries will be considered invalid. Once the giveaway ends, Movie Mikes will randomly pick out winners and alert the winners via email.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment invites audiences to let their spirits soar with the release of the beloved animated classic Dumbo, for the first time ever in high definition as a 70th Anniversary Edition, coming on September 20, 2011. The Academy Award®-winning (1942, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture) favorite will take flight for the first time with a premium restoration in stunning Blu-ray™ high definition featuring pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System High-Def Surround Sound, allowing fans to see more, hear more, interact more and share more of this timeless adventure about believing in yourself.

Film Synopsis
In celebration of this landmark film‘s 70th anniversary, experience the daring adventures of the world‘s only flying elephant with a dazzling all-new digital restoration and brilliant Disney Enhanced High Definition Theatre Mix Sound. The inspirational tale of Dumbo, the courageous baby elephant who uses his sensational ears to soar to fame with the help of his clever best friend Timothy Q. Mouse, will thrill and delight audiences of all ages. And now, the award-winning music and empowering messages about friendship and belief In yourself reach new heights in this must-have Blu-ray high-definition presentation of Walt Disney‘s classic Dumbo!

Bonus Features:
DVD:  Deleted Scene – “The Mouse’s Tale” Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?” Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo – A journey back to the origins of the film as everybody‘s favorite baby elephant takes wing. The Magic Of Dumbo: A Ride of Passage – Witness the excitement and magic of Disneyland‘s most popular ride through the eyes of a child. Audio Commentary with Pete Docter, Paula Sigman and Andreas Deja Sound Design Excerpt from The Reluctant Dragon Original Walt Disney Television Introduction
Blu-ray: Everything on the DVD plus: Cine-Explore Disney View “What Do You See?” Game, “What Do You Know?” Game, “Celebrating Dumbo”, Featurette Animated Short: “The Flying Mouse” Animated Short: “Elmer Elephant”
Movie Download (Standard Definition & High Definition Versions): Deleted Scene – “The Mouse’s Tale”, Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?”, “Celebrating Dumbo” Featurette

 

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Filed Under: Featured, Giveaways Tagged With: 70th, anniversary, bluray, disneys, dumbo, edition, ...
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